Prifysgol Glynd ŵ r University

1. Inaugural Future Directions ConferenceCynhadledd Gyntaf Cyfeiriadau’r Dyfodol Graduates for our Future – Graddedigion i’n dyfodol • Prifysgol Glyndŵr University • 26 / 4 /2012

2. Students as partners Students engaged in curriculum development

3. Who we are…. We are Cardiff Metropolitan University representatives for Students as Partners theme Dr Sue Tangney, Programme Manager (Professional Development) Nichola James, Students’ Union President Hannah Williams, Students’ Union Vice-President, Education and Welfare

4. Curriculum design Consider how students can be engaged in curriculum design As co-researchers, data collectors, participants Consider what, why, benefits, and how Through considering case studies

5. Curriculum design What do students want in the curriculum? What do students value? What makes a good learning environment? How do you know what students want? How could you find out?

6. How can you find out what students want? NSS Student-led teaching fellowships Focus groups Student rep Suggestion boxes Staff-student liaison meetings Other ways of opening up communication links between staff and students?

7. The student voice Cardiff University – PALET project – ran focus groups with students to find out how they learn best, what teaching methodologies fit their discipline best, what their expectations are Cardiff Metropolitan – NSS follow-up – focus groups with students to gain qualitative data and develop action plan in response

8. What you might ask students Their expectations of the course Clarity of learning outcomes/ assessment criteria Development of skills – critical thinking, reading, synthesis Quality/ clarity/ usefulness of feedback Relevance/ appropriateness of assessment Quality/ clarity/ relevance/ variety/ success of delivery of curriculum Administrative arrangements/ physical environment/ etc

9. What you might ask students What teaching methods are appropriate for developing particular generic skills, e.g. Employability skills, cultural inclusiveness Whether students are interested in getting involved in developing the curriculum Where they see their degree taking them in terms of employment What their career aspirations are

10. Question As a group, consider one of the developmental ideas and how you might go about gaining student input Once you have gained this information, what would you do with it?

11. How would you use the information gained from students? Directly developing curricula Engage students in developing resources for future students Ongoing process of resource development Building networks with appropriate bodies such as employers, community, international links, practitioners, researchers Building on students’ expertise (students teaching teachers esp. new technologies)

12. What activities could your students undertake? Negotiating exam questions Writing question banks Setting assignments Producing induction material

13. Designing resourcesGTV project – Glyndŵr University Broadcasting and Journalism students designed online platform to connect students with students, and students with wider community Fostering links with employers, voluntary organisations Encouraging innovation, discovery, creativity Shaping ideas of citizenship, inclusivity

14. Designing resourcesCardiff Met – employability initiative Health and Social Care students engaged in project to identify potential employment opportunities Better identification of graduate skills Built findings into induction process of new students Promoting sense of professional identity (thus improving retention) Building bank of real world case studies

15. Designing resourcesFeedback form design - Swansea Met Collaboration between SU and Head of Quality and Learning and Teaching to design standardised feedback form Hope to improve students’ appreciation of what feedback is (and perhaps improve NSS scores)

16. Students teaching others ColegLlandrilloCymru – networks set up between local colleges to improve digital literacy Networked students with students; staff with staff Perhaps students with staff??

17. What developmental idea would you like to consider? What would you like to do? How would you go about it? What would you hope to gain from it? 10 minutes to think about Feedback